Washing machine having drying apparatus

Abstract

A washing machine having a drying apparatus, which can perform a heated drying operation and shorten a drying time of laundry, is provided. The washing machine having a drying apparatus includes a top cover which is provided in an upper part of a body and has at least one air hole formed in a top surface thereof, a drying duct which is provided in the top cover to supply air heated by a heater provided thereinside to the air hole, and a rack member which is provided to be extractable from the body to hang laundry above the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing machine having a drying apparatus, comprising:
 a body; 
 a top cover disposed on an upper part of a body; 
 an opening disposed at the top cover to load laundry in the body; 
 a plurality of air holes disposed around the opening; 
 an air duct disposed along the air holes to supply air to the air holes; 
 an air blast fan disposed at an end of the air duct; and 
 a rack member which is configured to be extractable from the body to hang laundry above the body, the rack member comprising a first rack member coupled to the body and a second rack member coupled to the first rack member, 
 wherein the second rack member has a portion extending along the plurality of the air holes. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein a guide member is provided in a bottom part of the air hole to guide air flow upward. 
     
     
       3. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the guide member has curvature. 
     
     
       4. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprises a heater disposed in the air duct. 
     
     
       5. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the air blast fan comprises a pair of air blast fans provided in opposite sides in the air duct to blow air in a same direction. 
     
     
       6. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack member comprises a first rack member configured to be installed in the body and to be vertically movable in the body, and a second rack member configured to be coupled to an upper end of the first rack member and configured to hang the laundry. 
     
     
       7. The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more air holes are formed in the first rack member. 
     
     
       8. The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein a guide member to guide air flow to the one or more air holes in the first rack member. 
     
     
       9. The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more of air holes are formed in a bottom surface of the second rack member. 
     
     
       10. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rack member comprises a fixing rack fixed to the body, a moving rack configured to be movable from an inner side to an outer side of the fixing rack, and a locking apparatus to lock or unlock movement of the moving rack between the fixing rack and the moving rack. 
     
     
       11. The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the locking apparatus comprises a handle, a first moving member provided inside the moving rack and coupled to the handle, a wire coupled to the first moving member, a second moving member coupled to the wire and configured to be vertically movable, an elastic member to elastically support the second moving member, a locking ball configured to lock or unlock the movement of the moving rack by interlocking with movement of the second moving member, and a supporting bracket to support the locking ball between the moving rack and the fixing rack.